聚乳酸/聚乙二醇琥珀酸酯-姜黄素纳米粒的制备及体外评价

背景：聚乳酸及其共聚物是一类具有良好生物相容性的可降解高分子材料,已被广泛用于可生物降解型药物缓释或靶向给药系统中。目的：探索载药纳米粒制备条件对包封率和载药量的影响,确定最佳制备工艺条件。方法：以维生素E1000聚乙二醇琥珀酸酯（TPGS）为乳化剂、姜黄素为模型药物、聚乳酸为载体材料,采用O/W型乳化-溶剂挥发法制备聚乳酸-姜黄素纳米粒,以包封率和载药量为主要指标,单因素实验探索影响两指标的主要因素,再正交试验设计优化制备工艺。结果与结论：通过正交试验设计制备聚乳酸-姜黄素纳米粒的最佳工艺为：水油相比10：1,聚合物浓度15g/L,药物浓度3g/L,乳化剂TPGS浓度0.03%。以此工艺制备的载药纳米粒外形圆整光滑,粒度分布较为均匀,平均粒径为167.5nm,包封率为89.52%,载药量为13.72%,纳米粒前期突释不明显具有良好的缓释作用。该工艺稳定、简单可行,优化制备工艺得到的聚乳酸-姜黄素纳米粒粒径适中、包封率和载药量较高。     

正交优化聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒的制备

背景:聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒或纳米微球用于制备生物降解型缓释或定向给药体系已经研究了近30年,是国内外研究的热点.该体系能够控制粒径大小、延缓药物降解、延长药物释放时间、靶向释放、降低药物毒性和刺激性等.目的:以紫杉醇为模型药物、聚乳酸-羟基乙酸为包裹材料,探索载药纳米粒的制备条件对粒径、包封率等的影响,确定最佳制备工艺条件.方法:采用乳化-溶剂挥发法制备聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒,以粒径、包封率和载药量等为观察指标,通过正交设计法优化纳米粒制备工艺条件.结果与结论:通过正交实验设计,优化了制备工艺条件,其最佳条件是超声乳化时间为15 min,乳化剂浓度为1%,油水相比为1:25,合成温度为25℃.在此条件下进行实验,制备出的载药纳米粒粒径为217.6 nm,载药量1.79%,包封率85%.该制备工艺简单、稳定,优化制备条件,可制备出包封率高、粒径适宜的紫杉醇-聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒.     

聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒的制备

背景:聚乳酸-羟基乙酸是一种生物相容性良好的可降解材料,确定其最佳制备工艺条件,有利于聚乳酸-羟基乙酸后续药物载体研究与工业化生产条件的确立。目的:以聚乳酸-羟基乙酸为包裹材料,探索纳米粒的制备条件对粒径、表面形态等的影响,确定最佳制备工艺条件。方法:采用乳化-溶剂挥发法制备聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒,以粒径为观察指标,探讨乳化剂种类、乳化剂含量、油相种类、超声时间、挥发时间、油相与水相体积比(W∶O)以及聚合物质量浓度等制备条件对纳米粒粒径的影响,确定制备聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒的最佳工艺条件。结果与结论:优化后的制备工艺条件是在室温下,以一定的搅拌速度和滴加速度,选择常用无毒的乳化剂,浓度在0.3%~1.0%,丙酮为有机相,超声时间8~15min、挥发时间6~10h、水油相比(W∶O)>25∶1,聚合物质量浓度<60g/L。提示该制备工艺简单、稳定,优化制备条件,可制备出表面形态规整、粒径适宜的聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒。     

聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒的制备

背景：聚乳酸-羟基乙酸是一种生物相容性良好的可降解材料,确定其最佳制备工艺条件,有利于聚乳酸-羟基乙酸后续药物载体研究与工业化生产条件的确立。目的：以聚乳酸-羟基乙酸为包裹材料,探索纳米粒的制备条件对粒径、表面形态等的影响,确定最佳制备工艺条件。方法：采用乳化-溶剂挥发法制备聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒,以粒径为观察指标,探讨乳化剂种类、乳化剂含量、油相种类、超声时间、挥发时间、油相与水相体积比（W∶O）以及聚合物质量浓度等制备条件对纳米粒粒径的影响,确定制备聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒的最佳工艺条件。结果与结论：优化后的制备工艺条件是在室温下,以一定的搅拌速度和滴加速度,选择常用无毒的乳化剂,浓度在0.3%~1.0%,丙酮为有机相,超声时间8~15min、挥发时间6~10h、水油相比（W∶O）〉25∶1,聚合物质量浓度〈60g/L。提示该制备工艺简单、稳定,优化制备条件,可制备出表面形态规整、粒径适宜的聚乳酸-羟基乙酸纳米粒。     

载异烟肼利福平聚乳酸纳米粒的制备及体外释药

背景:微载体药物因具有靶向性、控释性、稳定性、更好的安全性备受关注.目的:观察载异烟肼利福平两种抗结核药于同一聚乳酸纳米粒的给药系统及体外释放特性.方法:采用改良的自乳化二元溶剂扩散法制备载异烟肼和利福平纳米粒,亚微粒径分析仪测定纳米粒粒径及分布,透射电镜观察其形态;高效液相色谱仪建立测定异烟肼、利福平的载药量和包封率;以磷酸盐缓冲液为释放介质,观察载异烟肼和利福平纳米粒的体外释药特性.结果与结论:载利福平和异烟肼纳米粒表面完整光滑,无明显粘连现象,纳米粒均匀度好.亚微粒径分析仪测定纳米粒平均粒径80.4 nm.异烟肼载药量为(15.95±1.34)%,包封率为(5.01±0.17)%;利福平载药量为(4.66±0.97)%,包封率为(4.05±0.18)%.体外释药结果显示纳米粒的体外释药过程较平稳.突释期纳米粒中异烟肼释放度为15.22%,到3 d累积释放度可达95.6%;利福平释放度为9.26%,到3 d累积释放度可达90.3%.提示采用改良的自乳化二元溶剂扩散法制备载异烟肼和利福平纳米粒,所得载药纳米粒的粒径小且较均匀.纳米粒体外释药过程较平稳,无明显突释现象.     

美斯地浓聚乳酸载药纳米粒的制备及体外释放

背景：美斯地浓临床常用于治疗重症肌无力,但其水溶性较强,半衰期短,生物利用度低,给药频率高,患者依从性差,因此提高其缓释作用对临床应用有蕈要意义。目的：制备美斯地浓聚乳酸纳米粒,并考察其体外释放性能。方法：以聚乳酸为载药材料,采用复乳液中干燥法制备美斯地浓聚乳酸纳米粒,运用单因素实验设计优化处方,动态透析法进行体外药物释放实验。结果与结论：确定以二氯甲烷作为油相制备纳米粒,内水相与油相的比例1：10,聚乳酸浓度6％,外水相聚乙烯醇浓度3％,美斯地浓投药量40mg为最佳制备工艺,此条件制备的药物纳米粒包封率和载药率分别为（67．59±1．46）％和（4．31±0．17）％。美斯地浓聚乳酸纳米粒的平均粒径为937nm,圆球形,表面光滑,未观察到粘连现象。与美斯地浓游离药物相比,美斯地浓聚乳酸纳米粒存在突释现象,之后呈现缓慢释放特性,72h释放量为57．03％,提示成功制备美斯地浓聚乳酸纳米粒,具有缓释效应。     

5-氟尿嘧啶磁性纳米粒的制备及性能

背景:磁性载药微粒在外加磁场作用下,能实现定向治疗作用,减少全身毒副作用,同时作为缓释载体,能减少药物的频繁给药,达到有效治疗目的.目的:制备5-氟尿嘧啶的磁性纳米粒,评价微球性能.方法:以海藻酸钠和壳聚糖作为壁材,5-氟尿嘧啶为模型药物,Span80为乳化剂,液体石蜡为分散介质,乳化-复凝聚法制备磁性纳米粒.并从外观、稳定性、磁响应性、结构、溶胀实验及体外释放实验等多方面考察纳米粒性能.结果与结论:所制5-氟尿嘧啶的磁性纳米粒形态良好,均匀圆整,分散性较好,粒径在100～300 nm,具有较好稳定性和磁响应性.考察Fe3O4用量的影响,发现随着Fe3O4用量的增加,磁响应性增强,但载药量下降.红外谱图说明微粒中包裹磁性物质Fe3O4,及5-氟尿嘧啶与壁材之间产生相互作用.将5-氟尿嘧啶磁性纳米粒分别浸渍在蒸馏水,0.9%NaCl溶液和磷酸盐缓冲液(pH=7.4)中,结果蒸馏水吸水速度最快且溶胀率最大,磷酸盐缓冲液(pH=7.4)吸水程度最小且溶胀率最小.微粒的缓释性能良好,50 h内释放的药物占总含药量的53.20%.     

壳聚糖纳米粒的制备及体外抗幽门螺杆菌效果评价

背景:壳聚糖是甲壳素的脱乙酰产物,这种碱性氨基多糖具有天然抗菌活性,且抗菌广谱,但将其纳米化后抗幽门螺杆菌作用的报道较少.目的:制备壳聚糖纳米粒并评价其体外抗幽门螺杆菌的疗效.设计、时间及地点:体外对比观察实验,于2008-03/10在中南大学湘雅医院卫生部纳米生物技术重点实验室完成.材料:采用聚合物分散法用脱乙酰度分别为88.5%和95%的2种壳聚糖粉末制各壳聚糖纳米粒.方法:取0.5mL.含幽门螺杆菌(NCTC11639和NCTC11637)5×108 CFU/mL 的布氏肉汤菌液均匀涂布于培养基上待干燥后,采用打孔法检验不同质量浓度(5,10,15,20 g/L),不同pH值(pH=6,5,4)和不同脱乙酰度(88.5%和95%)壳聚糖纳米粒溶液的抑菌效果.主要观察指标:抑菌环直径.抑菌环直径越大,说明该菌对此药敏感性越大,抗菌效果越好;反之越小,抗菌效果越差;若无抑菌环,则说明该菌对此药具有耐药性.结果:pH值在4～6时,壳聚糖纳米粒的抑菌作用与pH值呈负相关(P＜0.01),且在pH值为4时的抑菌效果最强.2种不同脱乙酰度壳聚糖对幽门螺杆菌的抑菌作用差异有显著性意义(P＜0.05),壳聚精纳米粒(脱乙酰度95%)的抑菌效果优于壳聚糖纳米粒(脱乙酰度88.5%),在质量浓度处于5～20 g/L时抗幽门螺杆菌的作用差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05).结论:壳聚糖纳米粒提高了在体外对幽门螺杆菌的抑菌作用,且此作用在酸性条件下明显增强.用脱乙酰度为95%的壳聚糖粉末制备的壳聚糖纳米粒具有更好的抑幽门螺杆菌的作用.     

乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒的制备及体外释药性

背景：医用纳米粒作为药物传递的新型载体,目前已经成为医药领域研究的重点。目的：构建以生物可降解材料乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物为载体,负载抗肿瘤药物5-氟尿嘧啶的载药纳米粒。方法：利用复乳-溶剂挥发法制备乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒。场发射扫描电子显微镜观察纳米粒表面形态;激光粒度分析仪测定粒径分布并计算成球率;紫外分光光度计测定5-氟尿嘧啶载药量、包封率,并对体外释药进行评估。结果与结论：纳米粒呈球性,平均粒径为（186±14）nm,成球率、载药量和包封率分别为70.8%、6.6%、28.1%,体外释药有突释现象,24h内5-氟尿嘧啶累积释药量达36.2%,10d达83.6%。提示成功制备乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒,其具有缓释效应。     

乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒的制备及体外释药性

背景:医用纳米粒作为药物传递的新型载体,目前已经成为医药领域研究的重点。目的:构建以生物可降解材料乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物为载体,负载抗肿瘤药物5-氟尿嘧啶的载药纳米粒。方法:利用复乳-溶剂挥发法制备乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒。场发射扫描电子显微镜观察纳米粒表面形态;激光粒度分析仪测定粒径分布并计算成球率;紫外分光光度计测定5-氟尿嘧啶载药量、包封率,并对体外释药进行评估。结果与结论:纳米粒呈球性,平均粒径为(186±14)nm,成球率、载药量和包封率分别为70.8%、6.6%、28.1%,体外释药有突释现象,24h内5-氟尿嘧啶累积释药量达36.2%,10d达83.6%。提示成功制备乳酸-羟基乙酸共聚物载药纳米粒,其具有缓释效应。     

生物素化聚乙二醇/聚乳酸纳米粒子的体外主动靶向行为

背景:目前研究的大部分高分子药物载体没有靶向性,在应用上有局限性,只有几个国外课题组报道生物素化聚乙二醇/聚乳酸(Biotin-PEO-PLA)纳米粒子的体外靶向行为,国内没有这方面的研究报道.目的:分析Biotin-PEO-PLA纳米粒子作为靶向药物载体的可行性.方法:透析法制备包埋紫杉醇的Biotin-PEO-PLA纳米粒子并表征;通过高效液相色谱研究包埋紫杉醇的Biotin-PEO-PLA纳米粒子的体外释放行为;利用细胞毒性法比较研究生物素-亲和素三步法实施的包埋紫杉醇的Biotin-PEO-PLA纳米粒子对OVCAR-3(表面表达CA-125抗体)和SKOV-3(表面不表达CA-125抗体)细胞的体外靶向行为.结果与结论:包埋在Biotin-PEO-PLA纳米粒子中的紫杉醇的释放呈现初期的快速释放以及随后的缓慢释放.利用三步法处理的OVCAR-3细胞存活率明显低于SKOV-3细胞,表明通过Biotin-PEO-PLA/avidin/biotinylated MAB X306与OVCAR-3细胞表面CA-125抗原的特异性相互作用,包埋紫杉醇的Biotin-PEO-PLA纳米粒子被更为有效地传递进了OVCAR-3细胞.     

聚乳酸羟基乙酸/纳米羟基磷灰石-5-氟尿嘧啶复合微球的制备及体外释放

背景:由聚乳酸羟基乙酸/纳米羟基磷灰石复合材料制备的微球,在体外磷酸盐缓冲液中能够持续释放药物.目的:制备聚乳酸羟基乙酸/纳米羟基磷灰石-5-氟尿嘧啶复合微球,探讨纳米羟基磷灰石对复合微球的载药量、包封率和体外释放等性质的影响.设计、时间及地点:材料学体外观察,于2009-02/2009-07在华南理工大学材料学院实验室完成.材料:聚乳酸羟基乙酸为济南岱罡生物有限公司产品,纳米羟基磷灰石由华南理工大学特种功能材料教育部重点实验室自制,5-氟尿嘧啶为上海楷洋生物技术有限公司产品.方法:以水溶性抗癌药物5-氟尿嘧啶作为模型药物,先用纳米羟基磷灰石吸附药物,外包裹生物相容性好且可生物降解的聚乳酸羟基乙酸,采用单乳化溶剂挥发法(S/O/W)制备聚乳酸羟基乙酸,纳米羟基磷灰石-5-氟尿嘧啶复合微球.对载药前后的纳米羟基磷灰石进行透射电子显微镜、扫描电子显微镜观察和FTIR分析.采用扫描电镜、激光粒度仪和紫外分光光度计对微球的理化性质及体外释药性质进行分析.主要观察指标:纳米羟基磷灰石与5-氟尿嘧啶分子之间的相互作用,微球载药量和包封率,药物体外释放.结果:FTIR结果表明,纳米羟基磷灰石对5-氟尿嘧啶有较强的吸附作用.聚乳酸羟基乙酸/纳米羟基磷灰石-5-氟尿嘧啶复合微球的载药量和包封率分别为3.83%,86.78%,明显高于单纯的聚乳酸羟基乙酸-5-氟尿嘧啶微球.经过体外释放药物突释后,复合微球比单纯聚乳酸羟基乙酸微球的药物释放慢.在第27天,复合微球和单纯的聚乳酸羟基乙酸微球累积药物释率放分别为84.87%,99.87%.结论:与单纯的聚乳酸羟基乙酸-5-氟尿嘧啶微球相比,由于纳米羟基磷灰石对5-氟尿嘧啶存在较强的吸附作用,使聚乳酸羟基乙酸/纳米羟基磷灰石-5-氟尿嘧啶复合微球的载药量和包封率得到了较大提高,具有更好的药物缓释效果.     

磁性聚乳酸-羟基乙酸氧化酚砷纳米微粒的制备及其特性

背景:基于纳米技术发展起来的纳米载体介导的磁性载药系统,在外加磁场作用下,能实现位点特异性靶向给药的目的,有利于提高病灶部位的局部药物浓度,从而进一步提高治疗效果,减少全身毒副作用.目的:研究磁性聚乳酸-羟基乙酸氧化酚砷纳米微粒的制备工艺,评价纳米粒子特性.设计:首先选择几个可能影响纳米微粒特性的因素进行了单因素实验,然后再根据实验结果,结合统计学中的正交设计,获得了最佳优化处方.单位:解放军第二军医大学长海医院特诊科.材料:实验于2005-01/2006-03在解放军第二军医大学药学院药剂教研室完成.实验用氧化酚砷购自美国Sigma公司,聚乳酸-羟基乙酸由山东医疗器械研究所提供,纳米级四氧化三铁购自美国Sigma公司,聚乙烯醇购自北京有机化工厂,二氯甲烷等其他试剂均为分析纯,购于上海国药集团化学试剂有限公司.方法:运用超声乳化-溶剂挥发法制备磁性聚乳酸-羟基乙酸氧化酚砷纳米微粒,通过透射电镜观察微粒形态,振动样品磁强计确证纳米微粒磁性的存在,激光粒径仪测定纳米粒的粒径大小和分布,高效液相法测定氧化酚砷的载药量及包封率,并计算氧化酚砷体外释放百分率.主要观察指标:磁性聚乳酸-羟基乙酸氧化酚砷纳米微粒的形态、粒径、载药量、包封率、磁性及体外释放情况.结果:①微粒包封率和载药量:实验制备的纳米粒平均包封率为34.2%;5批纳米粒载药量分别为3.06%,3.15%,3.18%,3.21%,3.41%,平均载药量为3.20%,批间差异较小,说明工艺稳定性、重现性好.②微粒形态:纳米微粒呈圆形,表面光滑,分布均匀,不粘连,磁性微球中可见非均匀分散的黑色不透光区,为四氧化三铁微粒.③微粒粒径:分布范围窄(140～500 nm),平均290 nm.④微粒磁性:在不断改变外加磁场的大小与方向的情况下,微粒具有不同的磁化强度,说明氧化酚砷聚乳酸纳米微粒具有一定的磁响应性.⑤体外释放实验:氧化酚砷经过最初的快速释放后,进入缓慢控释阶段,于第8天时达到最终基本稳定的平台期.结论:实验获得了较满意的磁性聚乳酸-羟基乙酸氧化酚砷纳米微粒制备工艺;该纳米微粒在外加磁场的情况下有较好磁靶向性的作用,同时具备良好药物缓释作用.     

Preparation of nanoparticles composed of poly(gamma-glutamic acid)-poly(lactide) block copolymers and evaluation of their uptake by HepG2 cells.

In the study, poly(gamma-glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA) and poly(lactide) (PLA) were used to synthesize block copolymers via a simple coupling reaction between gamma-PGA and PLA to prepare self-assembled nanoparticles. For the potential of targeting liver cancer cells, galactosamine was further conjugated on the prepared nanoparticles as a targeting moiety. gamma-PGA, a water-soluble, biodegradable, and non-toxic compound, was produced by microbial fermentation (Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 9945a) and then was hydrolyzed. The hydrolyzed gamma-PGA with a molecular weight of 4 kDa and a polydispersity of 1.3 was used, together with PLA (10 kDa, polydispersity 1.1), to synthesize block copolymers. The prepared nanoparticles had a mean particle size of about 140 nm with a zeta potential of about -20 mV. The results obtained by the TEM and AFM examinations showed that the morphology of the prepared nanoparticles was spherical in shape with a smooth surface. In the stability study, no aggregation or precipitation of nanoparticles was observed during storage for up to 1 month, as a result of the electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged nanoparticles. With increasing the galactosamine content conjugated on the rhodamine-123-containing nanoparticles, the intensity of fluorescence observed in HepG2 cells increased significantly. Additionally, the intensity of fluorescence observed in HepG2 cells incubated with the nanoparticles with or without galactosamine conjugated increased approximately linearly with increasing the duration of incubation. In contrast, there was no fluorescence observed in Hs68 cells (without ASGP receptors) incubated with the nanoparticles with galactosamine conjugated. The aforementioned results indicated that the galactosylated nanoparticles prepared in the study had a specific interaction with HepG2 cells via ligand-receptor recognition.     

羟基丁酸-羟基辛酸共聚物/脱细胞软骨基质复合支架的制备与体外降解

背景:羟基丁酸-羟基辛酸共聚物具有高生物相容性和降解性,但单一材料无法满足组织工程支架的要求。脱细胞软骨基质是制备复合支架的常用材料,具有良好的生物相容性和无抗原性等优点。目的:将羟基丁酸-羟基辛酸共聚物、脱细胞软骨基质以不同比例混合制备复合支架,观察其体外降解速率。方法:取新鲜猪关节软骨,用含有双抗的PBS液浸泡,放入含有苯甲基磺酰氟的tri-HCl缓冲液,加入DNase酶和RNase酶,用D-Hank’s液冲洗等步骤制备脱细胞软骨基质。采用溶剂浇注-颗粒沥滤的方法与羟基丁酸-羟基辛酸共聚物按不同浓度混合,制备出不同比例的复合支架。结果与结论:脱细胞软骨基质的比例不同,复合材料的完全降解时间也不同,8%含量的脱细胞软骨基质最符合软骨组织工程支架的要求。     

包载雷帕霉素聚乳酸-聚乙醇酸纳米粒子的制备、表征及体外释放试验

背景：新型可生物降解多聚物纳米控释载药制剂能显著改善药物穿透组织能力、再分布时程和滞留时间,可能克服载药基质对血管修复的负性影响,有望避免药物洗脱支架晚期支架内血栓。目的：制备雷帕霉素-聚乳酸-聚乙醇酸纳米粒子（rapamycin poly（lactic-co-glycolic）acid nanoparticles,RPM-PLGA-NPs）并观察其表征及体外控释性能。设计、时间及地点：单一样本实验于2003-03/09在中国医学科学院,中国协和医科大学,生物医学工程研究所生物医学材料重点实验室完成。材料：聚乳酸-聚乙烯醇酸共聚物50∶50由美国Birmingham Polymers公司提供。方法：以可生物降解高分子材料聚乳酸-聚乙醇酸共聚物作载药基质,超声乳化-溶剂挥发法制备RPM-PLGA-NPs,采用双室扩散池行体外药物释放试验。主要观察指标：测定平均载药量、平均包封率;激光光散射实验测定纳米粒子的粒径及分布;扫描电镜观察纳米粒子的表面形态;高效液相色谱法计算体外药物释放量、绘制累积释放曲线。结果：成功制备了平均粒径为246.8nm的RPM-PLGA-NPs,平均粒径246.8nm,粒径分布集中在208～294nm,呈窄分布;包封率大于77%,平均载药量为19.42%。体外释放近似于零级过程,至2周释放75%的药物。结论：超声乳化-溶剂挥发法制备RPM-PLGA-NPs稳定可靠,包封效率高,载药量控制稳定,粒径小、范围窄,体外释放药物恒定、具有良好的控释效能。     

Introduction of stereocomplex crystallites of PLA for the solid and microcellular poly(lactide)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blends

Solid and microcellular poly(l-lactide)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLLA/PBAT) blends with or without poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) were prepared via melt blending and batch foaming process with supercritical carbon dioxide, respectively. The introduction of PDLA on the rheological properties, crystallization behavior and dynamic mechanical properties of the PLLA matrix were investigated. The formed PLA stereocomplex between PLLA and PDLA enhanced the storage modulus and complex viscosity of PLLA/PBAT blends efficiently. Interestingly, the addition of 5 wt% or 10 wt% PDLA in the PLLA/PBAT blends was unfavorable for the PLLA crystallization behavior. The potential reason can be sc-PLA crystallites acting as the physical crosslinking points, which constrained the molecular mobility of the PLLA matrix and even blocked the nucleating effect of PBAT domains. Both the enhanced melt strength and decreased crystallinity of the PLLA matrix are favorable for the cell nucleation and growth and the gas adsorption, respectively. The designed partially foaming of PLLA/PBAT with or without PDLA was carried out to investigate the foaming mechanism. The final cell morphology of PLLA/PBAT foams exhibited typical open-cell structure mainly attributed to the soft immiscible PBAT phase as separated domains. With further addition of PDLA in the PLLA/PBAT blends, the microcellular morphology exhibited decreased average cell size and increased cell density. The sc-PLA crystallites networks in the PLLA matrix acted as cell nucleating agents, which meanwhile resisted the force of cell growth and then prevented the cell collapse.

The introduced PLA stereocomplex could enhance the melting strength of PLLA/PBAT blends efficiently. The microcellular morphology of PLLA/PBAT foams with PDLA exhibited decreased average cell size and increased cell density.     

Preparation and in vitro characterization of valsartan-loaded ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles

Valsartan is an antihypertensive drug used primarily orally, however, due to its hydrophobic nature it has got low bio-availability thus requiring higher dosage/frequency and causing more side effects. The aim of our work was to prepare valsartan-loaded nanoparticles by using ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers which can be administered orally and to investigate the preparation conditions and their significance as potential drug carriers for valsartan delivery by in vitro release studies. Ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers were used for the preparation of nanoparticles by single emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The formation of drug-loaded nanoparticles was designed by experimental design for size and encapsulation efficiency, in addition the prepared nanosuspensions were nano spray dried in order to gain a powder form that is easy to handle and store. Both of the nano spray dried formulations had an amorphous structure in contrast to the pure drug according to differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis, which can be advantageous in drug absorption. The originally processed ethyl cellulose-valsartan nanoparticles increased the solubility of the drug in the model intestinal medium, while poly(methyl methacrylate)-valsartan nanoparticles enabled substantially prolonged drug release. The release kinetics of both types of nanoparticles could be described by the Weibull model.

Valsartan-loaded ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles were prepared and nano spray-dried. The active agent was structurally changed in the nanoparticles, which could be advantageous in the intestinal absorption.     

Influence of micelle solubilization by tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) on solubility enhancement and percutaneous penetration of estradiol.

The effect of micellar solubilization on the enhancement of the solubility and percutaneous penetration of estradiol by the surface-active agent, tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) was characterized in this study. Results show that the solubility of estradiol was improved in the presence of TPGS through micellar solubilization. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of TPGS increased with increasing ethanol concentration in the medium. With the flux corrected to the saturated level (J(corrected)) of the free form of estradiol, an increase in the alcohol content of the medium resulted in an increase in J(corrected) for all levels of TPGS examined. For the same level of alcohol content, an increase in the TPGS concentration mostly led to a small extent of decrease in J(corrected). However, the extent of decrease was more obvious in media containing more than 60% alcohol. We also confirmed that only an insignificant amount of TPGS was transported across the skin (below the detection limit of 2 microg/ml). Permeabilities (P(eff)), which describe the overall effects (DK/H) on the stratum corneum (SC), decreased with increasing TPGS concentration for media containing 0, 40, 60, and 80% alcohol, whereas they increased then decreased with increasing TPGS concentration for media containing 10 and 20% alcohol. The enhancement ratios based on P(eff) assuming that the medium contained 0% TPGS and alcohol as unity did not increase accordingly with increases in TPGS concentration at the same level as alcohol. Likewise, the enhancement ratios for the same level of TPGS increased with low alcohol content, but then decreased with increasing alcohol content. We concluded that micellar solubilization by TPGS was able to improve the solubility of estradiol, but it only had an insignificant influence on the skin. Interfacial coverage of TPGS with increasing TPGS concentration and hindrance of the partitioning of estradiol by the increasing alcohol content might play a role in influencing the permeability of estradiol.